CHESLIN KOLBE IS only 5 ’7 and 73 kg, not exactly the height and weight of the players traditional involved with the Springboks. But when defenders struggle to put a finger on you, it can compensate for a lack of size.
The Stormers fullback has a touch of Shane Williams about him, and his continued ability to devastate defences with magical footwork has been noticed by South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer.
Kolbe is one of 19 uncapped players Meyer has invited to Springboks training camp and it will be interesting to see if the coach regards him as a viable squad member for the upcoming World Cup.
Granted, he isn’t the biggest guy but this sort of attacking talent is hard to come by.
His running style isn’t that different to the similarly sized South African, Gio Aplon. He has been capped for South Africa 17 times so there is no reason why Kolbe, who looks even better than Aplon, can’t make the breakthrough too.
There are two Springboks camps in the next few weeks, and some players have been selected for both depending on their Super Rugby schedules.
Johannesburg camp (Cell C Sharks on tour) – 3-6 May:
Forwards (26): Arno Botha, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Jacques du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Trevor Nyakane, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.
Backs (18): Bjorn Basson, Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Rudy Paige, Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter.
Cape Town camp (Vodacom Bulls on tour) – 31 May to 3 June:
Forwards (27): Willem Alberts, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Ryan Kankowski, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Michael Rhodes, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley.
Backs (17): Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Nic Groom, Cornal Hendricks, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Cobus Reinach, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter.
